2 Cebuanos bound for Homeless World Cup in Poland

By Edri K. Aznar

Thursday, July 18, 2013

TWO CEBUANO footballers are joining the roster of the Philippine squad that is vying for the crown in the 11th Homeless World Cup next month in Poznan, Poland.
Don Bosco Boy’s Home’s Neil Minoza and Elson Dorimon each earned a slot in the Philippine team after trying out for the squad. Another Cebuano, Cliton Tillo, however, didn’t make the cut.
“Two have made it to the team, while the other did not because he was underaged,” Don Bosco’s Bro. Mari Aberasturi told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday. “He (Tillo) could have been in the line-up but he is a minor and he needs more requirements to get a passport and wouldn’t reach the deadline.”
Around 14 homeless footballers tried out for the team, which was trimmed down to eight for the final roster that includes Minoza and Dorimon.
“They have been with the team for three months and will be leaving for Poland on Aug. 8,” said Aberasturi.
The Philippines is among the 64 countries that will compete in the annual football event, which will be staged on Aug. 10 to 18 at the Malta Regatta Course in Poznan.
The men’s competition will have 48 countries, while the women’s category will have 16 countries.
The Philippines has gained momentum in the Homeless World Cup, finishing fifth place in last year’s tournament in Mexico following a 7-6 victory over two-time Homeless World Cup winners Italy.
The Philippines is currently ranked 15th out of 75 countries in the Homeless World Cup.
Chile took last year’s trophy after beating host Mexico, 8-5, in the four-a-side street football tournament.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 19, 2013.

Villaflor: The Good, the Bad and the Singapore Cup

By Noel S. Villaflor
Footnote

Thursday, July 18, 2013

THERE is little fanfare as the RHB Singapore Cup 2013 resumes with the quarterfinal matches next week.
From the 16 clubs that saw action in the Round of 16, the number is now down to eight.
Two of those surviving clubs are from the Philippines: Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and Global FC, both of the United Football League.
Loyola holds the distinction of being the first club to play in the Singapore Cup after it was invited in the 2012 tournament. This year, Global FC, the 2012 UFL league champions, joins Loyola in a quest to win the Philippines’ first international club championship, as well as the $200,000 total cash prize up for grabs.
But since they belong to the same pool, a Loyola vs. Global semifinal is looming, that is, of course, if they get past their opponents in the two-leg quarterfinals.
Global sees action first, against Brunei DPMM FC. The first leg will be on July 24, Wednesday, while the second leg will be on July 27, Saturday. Both games will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium and kick off at 8 p.m.
Now Brunei DPMM FC doesn’t ring a bell and sounds like an easy opponent for Global, but don’t be fooled.
And if Global’s legions of fans think that Brunei DPMM would be a walk in the park, they’re dead wrong. Brunei DPMM, which competes in the S. League, dumped Lao Police Club, the Lao League champions, 4-0 in the first round.
The reason for the strong showing of Brunei DPMM, whose chairman happens to be the Crown Prince of Brunei, is that it is, in fact, a champion club—it won the Singapore League Cup in 2012. (The Singapore League Cup shouldn’t be confused with the Singapore Cup, which is the older tournament of the two. Also, the Singapore Cup, which is now 16 years in the running, dangles the bigger prize money– $100,000 to the champion, compared to the Singapore League Cup’s $15,000.)
This tough quarterfinal for Global FC is the first bad news. The other bad news is that there likely won’t be any television coverage for both legs, since there has been no word yet from the Football Association of Singapore about a broadcast.
In another quarterfinal, the Sparks will face Tanjong Pagar United FC in the two-leg quarterfinal. The first leg will be held on July 25, Thursday, at the Queenstown Stadium. The return leg will be on July 28, a Sunday, at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Both matches kick off at 8 p.m.
If it plays it’s A-game, the Sparks, led by the Younghusband brothers, can handily beat The Jaguars, currently 12th in the S. League. That’s the first good news.
The second good news is that the second-leg of the Sparks vs. The Jaguars will have live television coverage, at least in Singapore.
“We are pleased to announce that the match between Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and Tanjong Pagar United FC will be shown “live” from Jalan Besar Stadium on 28th July 2013 at 8 p.m. on StarHub SuperSports Arena Channel 201,” said the Football Association of Singapore in a press statement last Monday.
“This is an intriguing fixture which pitches the firepower of Tanjong Pagar United in the form of the irrepressible Monsef Zerka, with the effervescence of Loyola Meralco’s Younghusband brothers, who contributed largely to the club’s lofty third position in the UFL in the Philippines,” the FAS said further. “Expect lots of end-to-end action in what could be a potentially explosive and emotionally charged game.”
While Singapore football’s governing body sounds thrilled about the Sparks vs. Tanjong Pagar match, there’s no word yet whether the match will be broadcast in the Philippines as well. That’s the not-so-good news.
Hopefully, a broadcast deal can be made in time for the Sparks vs. Tanjong Pagar second-leg quarterfinal. At least we can see for ourselves what the Football Association of Singapore is raving about.
(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 19, 2013.

De la Noche scores 3 goals as Ceres blanks LBFC, 8-nil

By Jerome Galunan Jr.
Ceres FC’s Bes dela Noche nailed three goals to lead his team to an 8-nil victory over Las Buenas FC on Sunday in the ongoing 2nd Conference of the North Football League played Sunday at the Ayala North Point pitch in Talisay City.
Dela Noche opened Ceres’ offense with an early 8th minute goal before Joshua Fegidero made it double in the 11th minute.
But, the Ceres side is more aggressive on their attack as Dela Noche fired another straight to the goal in the 24th minute while Marvin Broce struck his team’s fourth goal to end the break, 4-nil.
The second remained favorable to Ceres’ offensive flow as De la Noche and Carlo Tacusalme nailed back-to-back goals in the 54th and 55th minutes of the match. Fegidero and Tacusalme scored two more goals as time was winding down in the 78th and 80th minute of the game.
In the other match, defending champion Dyanmic Builders FC also blanked Trimaxi-Agro FC, 2-nil.
Rolando Ian Treyes and Mark Arandilla led the Builders after scoring in the 10th and 23rd minute of the match.
Martin Castillon saved Silver Dragon FC for a possible draw with Jakalz after sending the ball at the back of the net just before the final whistle in the 80th minute to end the match, 3-2.
Silver Dragons was up by two goals in the first half on Richard Canedo’s goals in the 21st and 40th minutes but Jakalz’s Samson Sare and Michael Pacite shot two consecutive scores in the 70th and 76th minutes./

WDJ

Azkals goalkeeper Roland Müller signs for Swiss club

Azkals GK Roland Müller has signed for Swiss club Servette Fc


http://www.servettefc.ch/fr/actualite/article-5231.html

Denis Wolf joins German club

German Club TSV Havelse has signed Azkals  Denis Wolf from Global FC


http://www.tsv-havelse.de/index.php?id=44

Missing SEA Games will be a "disaster" for U-23 Azkals

Jing Jamlang, special to InterAKTV

“It’ll be a disaster if we don’t let these guys go to the SEA Games.”

UFL All-Stars coach Ernie Nierras kept his words short and sweet. Clearly impressed with the level of play from the U-23 Azkals in last night’s charity match, Stallion’s double-winning head honcho, was full of praise of his opposition.

“The movement was very good. They’re very confident. For a young team like this to be able to hold their own, you can see the quality within the team,” said Nierras.

The game may have ended in a 1-1 draw, but the young national team, without established stars like the Angeles brothers, Jeffrey Christaens, OJ Porteria, and Jason de Jong, impressed with an unmistakable air of welcomed brashness. This was a team that believed in themselves.

Considered underdogs going into the match, the U-23 Azkals threw out any ideas of a one-sided affair early, settling into the game immediately.

Surprisingly calm and creative in possession, the largely homegrown group looked right at home against established internationals such as Chieffy Caligdong, Chris Greatwich, Anton Del Rosario and Misagh Bahadoran.

Equally, if not more authoritative in defense, Brian Reid’s boys looked extremely organized and well prepared. From those that witnessed the match, it seems the general consensus is that the U-23 Azkals have all the tools to be a real force in the region.

“This is going to be a very strong team,” Nierras agreed. “And they’re not even complete yet.”

Jing Jamlang covers football for InterAKTV and announces matches for AKTV on IBC. He served as an assistant technical director for the UFL during its maiden season. In his column Off the Upright, he gives his take on various football issues. Follow him on Twitter for more football discussion.

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Azkals member Patrick Reichelt signs with Thailand club

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

Philippine national men’s football team member Patrick Reichelt has left the country to bring his talents to Thailand.

After two seasons with United Football League club Global FC, Reichelt has joined Singhtarua FC of Thai Division 1 League, the country’s second-tier football competition.

“Will start another journey now which will not be too far from Manila ” Reichelt wrote on his Twitter account. “So you guys will still see me a lot. Will miss everything!”

Reichelt, a Filipino-German, has been one of the mainstays for the Azkals, providing the much needed spark in the midfield. A knee injury early in his career sidelined him for 10 months, but he regained his form when he joined the national team last year.

With the move, Reichelt becomes the second Azkals member to play in Thailand. Striker Javier Patiño suits up for Thai Premier League club Buriram United.

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Under-23 Azkals battle UFL All-Stars to draw

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

The Philippine national men’s Under-23 football team battled a selection from the United Football League to a 1-1 draw in a benefit match Sunday night at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill in Taguig.
The UFL All-Stars, coached by Ernie Nierras ofLeague and Cup champion Stallion Sta. Lucia, drew first blood after Global FC striker Izzo Elhabib scored at the 63rd minute.
But the U-23 Azkals, in its first outing under new coach Brian Reid from Global, answered right away on a counterattack, with San Beda’s David Fornea nailing the equalizing goal at the 65th minute.
The benefit match capped off the UFL season, with Philippine Army winning over Union Internacional Manila in the last official fixture played earlier to keep its spot in Division One.

Proceeds of the match will be for the benefit of the U-23 Azkals.


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